Mar 2010 Issue - the Aberdeen Boat Club

Former ABC Commodore Jon Zinke served his 11th year
as Ma On Shan peak control, posing the question would
he feel more at home joining a mountaineering or Fell
Walking club? Clearing Sai Kung the fleet sailed into the
night, and across the shipping lanes. With Division B now
down to two boats Rhapsody experienced sudden gear
failure forcing her out of the race, leaving GA as the only
Division B boat on the water and guaranteeing her a win
on completion of the course.
Mt Stenhouse Peak Control, caught off guard by the strong
wind and speed of the lead boats, found themselves in a
mad dash to get to Lamma Island and reach the summit
in time to monitor the race leaders. To their credit, and
the delight of the race organizers, the Hong Kong Sea
School were in place and ready when the first competitors
arrived. Red Kite II arrived at Lamma early setting a
blistering pace on the water; however, due to some
unorthodox navigation by their shore team she stayed long
enough to watch several boats depart for Lantau in front
of her.
The Lantau Beach Patrol led by ABC General Manager
Philippe de Manny were kept on their toes throughout
the race, due in no small part to the consignment of
Lantau Gate to the annals of history. With the gate
requirement dropped, skippers were sending shore teams
in over the whole beach hoping for some slight tactical
advantage. Two thirds of the LBP were last seen in a
5
Lantau restaurant drinking champagne and singing loudly
in French. We shall remember them.
Sunrise on Sunday saw Wicked taking line honours, a
good 25 minutes ahead of rivals Red Kite. The Farr Side
once again proved themselves a force to be reckoned with,
the 30 year old Bruce Farr designed yacht and her well
seasoned, or marinated, crew won Division A HKPN on
corrected time. Kei Lun completed the course in under 21
hours earning her a podium position in HKPN. Meanwhile
Violet Hill Peak Control fell foul of a roving Department
of Agriculture and Fisheries patrol who demanded the
removal of an ‘illegal structure’, the 4 Peaks Race banner,
because race the organiser had failed to apply in advance
for a building permit. I express my most humble apologies
to the officials and race volunteers involved. Plans are
already afoot to rename next year’s peak control the Violet
Hill Squatter Camp.
Talking Head sailed a clean race, without any penalties,
finishing mid fleet in HKPN and 7th in IRC. Taxi and
Tipsy Frenz finished within 15 minutes of each other after
racing for 27 hours. Hanse 400 Darling rounded off the fleet,
finishing well within the official race cut off time. But, after
all the numbers were fed into the computer, the overall IRC
winner was Whiskey Jack, despite picking up a couple of
penalties on their way around.